WORK has finally begun at the Heelands local centre, more than nine months after it was originally due to start.

Since before Christmas the shops have been covered in scaffolding after Milton Keynes Council found balconies to the 16 flats above them were unsafe and needed to be removed.

Legal complications and a row with the leaseholder of one of the flats had held up proceedings, leaving the centre's shopkeepers frustrated and complaining that the ugly scaffolding was driving business away.

But now the end is in sight as work began on Monday to remove the
balconies.

The work is expected to be complete by Christmas and will be done in tandem with refurbishment and regeneration work to the area.

As well as removing the balconies the council will also be replacing
rotten timbers in the walkways, repainting the entire building and adding new UPVC windows and doors to the flats.

For safety reasons Juliette bars will also be added to the flat windows to replace the balconies.

A council spokesman said: "We did have one official objection to the work – but we believe that we have consulted all leaseholders in the
required manner, and that any further delays are perpetuating the risk to the public."

As well as the flat repairs the area is set to be transformed by
much-needed improvements to the environment around the local centre, including adding proper paving to the front of the shops, a youth shelter away from the shops and improved parking at the rear of Swinden
Court.

Much of this work will depend on the removal of the scaffolding, but
it is hoped to be completed by March.